Diving apparatus.



W. J. ROGERS.

DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APRJ. I914.

Patent-ed May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

QN MAE N E w WITNESSES:

A TTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHUTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D C

W. 1. ROGERS.

DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, m4.

Patented May 18, 1915.

WITNESSES:

A TTORA/EY THE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C.

WILLIAM J. EoeEnS, E SEATTLE, WASHINGTON;

DIVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May f8, 1915.

Application filed April 2, 1914. Serial No. 829,007.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of "Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to diving apparatus for use in wrecking or recovering sunken vessels or other objects.

The object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of this character where by men may descend to relatively great depths in the water and therein perform various operations with certainty and despatch.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of devices, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of devices embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical Section of the diving vessel. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of the front end of the vessel. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the forward end of the grap-' pling devices shown in a rotary position rectangular to that in which it is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the rear end of the grappling devices with appliances for operating and regulating the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in cross section, said sec tion being taken on line 88 of Fig.3. Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a door for closing in an emergency the opening in the front wall of the vessel. Fig. 10 'isa cross sectional view on line 1010 of Fig. 5. V

The diving vessel proper is constructed with a peripheral shell having a cylindrical rear portion 11, a tapering front portion 12 and rear and forward end walls 13and 14.

Provided in advance of the forward wall 14,

is an extension 15 which may be formed with a taper similar to that of the part 12 or, as shown, of a cylindrical shape.

16 represents a closure or plate for a man hole provided in the shell and is desirably formed of a circular plate provided in its periphery with screw-threads to engage screw-threads provided in a frame 17 which 1 Ward end a bifurcated head 23. Provided withinthe shaft 22 is a rod 24 arranged for longitudinal movement by means of a screw 25 which operates through a screw-threaded 'hole provided in a cap 26 secured to the rear end of said shaft. The screw is socketed in an axial bore of the rod 24% and is secured against axial movement independently of the rod as by means of keys 27 (Fig. 10) extending through the shaft and engaging in a circumferential groove 25 formed in the rod.

28 represents a wheel handle for operating the screw 25. Connected by a pivotal pin 29 to the outer end of the rod 2% is a pair of jaws 30 which extend from between the head branches or checks 23 to a distance thereinfront.

31 represent spaced rollers mounted upon axles 32 secured to the cheeks 23 and serve as roller bearings against which the outer faces of the jaws are pressed through the agency of a sear-spring 33 which tends to open the jaws. When the rod 24 is retracted through the instrumentality of the screw 25, the jaws 30 are drawn into the space between the rollers 31, thereby causing the jaws to close, but when the screw is operated to move the rod forwardly, the jaws are correspondingly advanced and will be opened by means of the spring'33.

The jaws may also be revolubly moved about the axis of the rod 24 by means of a handle or arm 34: of a collar 35 which is secured as by set screws 36 to the shaft 22 so that when the latter is turned the cheeks 23 of the head 23 will cause the jaws to be turned therewith.

37 represents a rail supported upon standards 38. and provided with rack-teeth 39, whichare engaged by a toothed. pinion 40 mounted upon a cranked shaft *l-l'which is journaled in a carriage 42. Said carriage is provided with supporting wheels 43 (Figs. 5 and 6) which operate upon the rail 37at oppositesides ofthe rack. Said carriage is connected to the shaft 22 near its rear end so as tos'erve as a support for the same. As illustrated, the carriage is formed with two branches 4% which are bored to receive the shaft and are spaced to accommodate the collar therebetween.

The carriage 42 is also provided below the wheels 43 with toes &5 which extend below the rail and serve to prevent the uplifting of the carriage when the grappling device approaches the forward 'end' of its travel and to minimize strains to which the grap- 'pling device .is subjected when the same is bearing a load in itsjaws or whenprotruded to aconsiderable extent.

. Hingedly secured to an attachment 46 provided on the forward wall 14 is a door 47 whose oflice is to close the opening obtaining within the stuffingbox 21 should the grappling devices be ejected as, for example, when such devices'would become entangled by rigging or chains of a sunken ship. In such an event, the occupants of the diving vessel would remove the cap26, the wheel 28, and the set-screws 36, to loosen collar 35.

. The'sha'ft 22 is then thrust outwardly from thevessel, whereupon the pendent door 47 i would be swung to and firmly held by the water-pressure against the stuffing box to prevent the entry of water into the vessel.

\Vhen unemployed, the free end of the door is supported by a roller 48 thereon tracking Y upon the shaft 22.

. ing damagedI provide an inverted U shaped A telescope 4L9extends throughthe wall 14 to give an occupant of the vessel a view of any object which may present itself in front Contributary to this end, I,

of the vessel. provide a series of'electriclamps 50 inthe extension 15 arranging them concentrically above and to each side of the axis of the grappling devices. Said lamps are individually inclosed in water-tight tubular receptacles 51 (Fig. 3) secured to socket-connections 52 at their rear ends and having lenses 7 53 which are secured to the outer ends by union nuts'54. To guard said tubes from berendering the air within the vessel suitable for breathing or to replace the air which may bedischarged from the vessel by means of an exhaust pump, as indicated by 58 in Fig. 2.

59 represents vessel with an air supply pump 60 on an attendant boat or bargeB and which maybe a flexible tube connecting the utilized when the A diving vessel is operating 7 at moderate depths.

The circuit wires for supplying'electrio currentto the lamps provided in the vessel or forthe n1otor 60. to drive the pump 58 may be led through the tube 59.

Legs 61 containing heavy material suohas lead to serve as ballast elements are detachably connected to the vessel by means of screw-bolts 62 (see Fig. 7) which extend through screw-threaded holes provided in the vessel shell to engage in threaded holes provided'in flanges 61. formed on the legs.

, "More particularly, a bolt 62 is formed intermediate its length with a peripheral ridge 62 of sufficient diameter to prevent'the samebeing drawn through a slot of a guard-plate 63, the latter being secured in such position relatively'to the shell that the ridge 62 will encounter said guard to pre vent the withdrawal of the bolt fromfthe threaded hole therefor in the shell and thus obviate any danger of the interior of the vessel being flooded when the ballast members, or legs are released when it is deemed expedient to render the vessel. flotative. The vessel is also provided with a telephone instrument 64 which is wired to an instrument (not shown) on the barge Bfor the transmission of instructions as to the manipulation of the vessel from the barge, as

will now be explained. I

Rigidly secured to the diving vessel and in proximity to the front and rear ends of the cylindrical portion 11 of the vessel, are eyecables 66 and 67. These cables are directed by guide-sheaves 68 (Fig. l) to the sheaves of a block 69 and thence extend to poweractuated hoistingdrums 70 and 70 The sheaves 68 are mounted upon pins 71 which are carried by a beam 72'and positioned near m bolts or attachments 65 forthe suspending,

the ends of the same so as to keep the cables spread well apart at the beam. The beam inturnis supported at its ends by lines 73 from a yoke 74 which is secured to a swivel or eye-bolt75 which also serves for connect: ing theblock 69 to the end of a boom 76. This boom is connected to the barge-mast 77 for vertical and-horizontalswinging move ments and which may be regulated by suitable ropes such as 7 8 and 7 9 which are handled by the barge crew. Controlling lines,

as 80, are furthermore connected'with the ends of the beam? 2 to enable it to be horizontally rotated when it is desired to correspondingly change the position of the diving vessel and which may be further. aifected by swinging the boom. WVhen the diving vessel is to be raised or lowered, the drums 70 and "('0 would be operated in unison to wind up orpay out the respective cables.

The diving-vessel, moreover, by a suitable regulation of the appropriatev cable, may be regu- V lated to haveits forwardend inclined eitherv upwardly or downwardly, as maybe deemed necessary or desirable to facilitate its operations under water. I a I The construction and operation of the invention will, it is thought, be understood from the foregoing description. Attention is, however, directed to-the provision of suspending means for the diving vessel whereby is afforded a relatively long forward end which may be introduced into an opening in the side of a sunken boat or beneath the same where the space will permit. Furthermore, the grappling devices may be moved and also for connecting a hoisting line or the like to a sunken boat as, for example, by engaging a hook provided on such line in a hawsehole pipe, to a rudder-post, passing the line under the counter of the boat, etc.

Such operations are simplified and may be intelligently performed through the assistance of the telescope and the devices provided to illuminate the field of the telescope. WVhat I claim as my invention, is

1. In apparatus of the character described,a diving vessel having a cylindrical rear end and a tapering forward portion, cables depending from a boat and respec tively connected with the cylindrical portion of the vessel in proximity to the forward and rear ends of such cylindrical portion for sustaining the vessel at predetermined depths and also serving to regulate the longitudinal inclination of the vessel at selected inclinations and grappling devices operable from within the vessel and extending through the forward end of the same.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a diving vessel, cables operable from above the water surface for regulating the movements of the vessel when submerged, one of said cables being connected to the vessel in proximity to its rear end and the other cable being connected to the vessel at a distance from its front end to afford a relatively long end which projects in front of the adjacent cable to enable such end of the vessel to be introduced within and beneath a sunken boat, said cables also affording means whereby the vessel may be inclined or turned about horizontal andvertical axes.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a diving vessel provided with grappling devices extending from one end thereof, and cables operable from above the water surface for regulating the movements of the vessel when submerged, one of said cables being connected to the vessel in proximity to its rear end and the other cable being connected to the vessel at a distance from its front end to afford a relatively long end which projects in front of the adjacent cable;

to enable such end of the vessel to be introduced within and beneath a sunken boat," said cables also affording means whereby' the'vessel may be inclined or turned about horizontal and vertical axes.

4. In apparatus of thecharacter described, a diving vessel, means operable above the water surface for controlling all of the movements of the vessel when submerged, grappling devices extending through the shell of the vessel and connected withthe latter so as to be maintained in approximately parallel relations to the vessels axis,

means provided within the vessel for effect ing the rotary and longitudinal movements of said devices with respect to the vessel, means for projecting light in front ofv said devices, and means whereby the action of the grappling devices may be observed from within the vessel. r

5. In apparatus of the class described, a diving vessel having a wall at a distance from itsforward extremity, devices extending through said wall and adapted to be manipulated from within the vessel, a plurality of lamps provided within the space in front of said wall and inclosed by the pe-. ripheral wall of the part of the vessel structure which is in advance of the first named wall and arranged to illuminate .the operating endof said devices, and means provided in the first-named wall for observing the operations of said devices.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a diving vessel having a wall adjacent its front end, a stuffing-box provided in said wall, and grappling devices including a shaft which extends through said stuffing-box, of a door hingedly connected to the front side of said wall and adapted'to close the opening in said stuffingbox when the grappling devices are removed therefrom.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a diving vessel, and a boat floating at the water surface, of drums provided on said boat, cables extending from the respective drums and connected with said vessel in spaced relation whereby said vessel may be raised or lowered or the hori- I zontal trim thereof may be altered through the instrumentality of said drums, and means operable from the boat for controlling said cables whereby the vessel may be turned about a vertical axis.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a diving vessel provided with grappling devices, and a boat floating at the water surface, of two power-driven extension from the interior. of'thefvessel,

drums provided 0111-; said: boatQ-cablesiextend: 7 ing from therespective'drumsandconnected with said vessel in: spaced, relation; whereby said vessel may be. raised, or lowered, orthe horiz,ontali trim thereof, -may be,- altered through the instrumentality of said drums, and means operable; from the: boat. for veontrolling said cables 7 whereby the; vessel may be turned abouta vertical axis.

9. In apparatus of the, class described,v the.

combination with; adilvingg vessel and, a boat;-

floatingat the water surface, of drums-provided? on 'saidboat,.;cables -.extending. from the; respective drums and connected; with said vessel: in, spaced; relation whereby said, vessel may be raised or lowered: or-the horizontal trim, thereof maybe alteredlthrough the instrumentality" of' said dru1ns,@means provided onsaidjboatsand acting supplement 2 .tary': toior independently ofsaid drums whereby the elevation. of the vessel; in the; water may be changed, and means operable from they beat for controlling-said cables.

whereby the vessel may bev turned. about a WerticalLaXis;

" 10. In apparatus vided With-a tapering'portion' and an extension thereinfront having an open end,v off zgrappling devices projecting through, said,

said head a rod inclosed by said shaft, a l

: Goples of this patentf may be obtainedfor of t eme, describedf the combination With" a diving vessel propair. of jaws-hingedly connected to saidrod and guided by a they aforesaidbifurcaf tions, a spring acting to hold, said jaws juxtaposed with said rollers, and'means engaging the, rear endof said'rod whereby axial movements may be imparted to the same with; respect to the; shaft to cooperate with: the spring; for closing or, opening the grapplingjaws.*

12-. In apparatus of the class described, a

grappling devices comprising a hollow shaft; a bifurcated head provided on the V front end of saidishaft, rollerscarried be:

tween; the bifurcations of said head, a: rod inclosed by said shaft, a pair of jaws hingedly connected to, said rod and guided by the aforesaid bifurcations, a spring acting to hold; said jaws juxtaposedwith said-rollers,.and means engaging-the rear: end of said rod whereby axial movements may be imparted to the same with respect to the shaft whereby. the jaws may be opened or closed through the. cooperative action. of said rollersand the-spring. in Y I V 13-. In'apparatusofthe class described, a

diving vessel having a tapering forward porti0n,;two cablesdepending from, a boat and connected to theflvessel for sustaining theisameyat. predetermined depths, said cablesbeing independentlyoperable whereby the longitudinal inclination of the vessel may be regulated, and grappling devicesfl operable from within the vessel'and, extending through the forward end thereof. Signed at Seattle,Wash., this 28th day of March, 1914. V r

a V WI'LLIAMJ, ROGERS. Witnesses: V v i PIERRE BARNES, HoRAon BARNES. V

fiv a y addres'si-ngfihe cominissionerfof Patents, Washington, D. :0. i q 7 

